Missile attitude control system



Dec. 20, 1960 H. s. MccuLLoUGH, JR., ErAL 2,965,334

MISSILE ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 2l, 1959 S'Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1960 H. s. MccULLoUGH, JR., ETAL 2,965,334

Mssm ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2l, 1959 FIG. 5

mm.. UT.

M. A Sm i7... mmm Huw W Dec. zo, 1960 H. S. MCCULLOUGH, JR., I'AL MISSILE ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed 001;. 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Huqh S. MCCuIIouqh Jr.

Jewell M. Hall JJWENTOR.

.Y Smm,

Mn-#UL the Casings.

2,965,334 NIISSILE ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM Hugh S. McCullough, Jr., 1405 Hermitage Ave. SE.,l

and Jewell M. Hall, 162 Huntsville, Ala.

Filed Oct. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 847,853 Claims. (Cl. 244-14) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) Warren Drive NW., both of tions where space and weight are especially important--` for example, tools on spacecraft.

' When such a system is used to supply pressure to attitude control nozzles for use in space vehicles it should be capable of maintaining a working pressure over a long period of time without the danger of explosions from too much pressure and should be adaptable to small spaces and be of minimum weight.

In view of these facts, an object of this invention is to supply working pressure to components over a long period of time without having a large initial pressure.

Another object is to eliminate the danger of explosion' that is present in old-type systems, which are required to' store the necessary amount of pressure before takeolf, by reducing the amount of pressure in the system at take-off. i

" A further object of this invention is to provide a system that is suitable for use in missiles or other similar places due to its savings in space and weight.

Another object is to provide a light-weight, low-volume pressurized-gas system whose pressure range 'is automati cally maintained.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following detail description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a semi-schematic view showing-the attitude control system.

Figure 2 is a sectional View showing the fluid circuit governor used with the system.

Figure 3 is a plan view, partially broken away, of the electric circuit sequence means for control of successivelyoperated, individual gas-suppliers. y

Figure 4 is an elevational view partly in section along the plane 4-4 of Figure 3.

' Figure 5 is a sectional view, along line 5-5 of Figure l of one type of the pressure creating-device used inthe invention.

lFigure 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the pressure creating device, comprisingv chemicals' separated by a member adapted to prevent mixing of the chemicals until a predetermined time.

`In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration there are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, the numeral 1 designates .a .missile body having,

a pressure system `2 adapted to. supply pressure to the attitude control nozzles 3, or other missile f components requiring pressure for operation.

has a plurality of squib casings 8, which inthe form of Figure 5 is connected at one of its ends with the interior of tank 6. This endv is -fitted with a filter, The other ends of holders 8 areadapted to Vbe sealed, so that 4the filtered'ends, leading into tank6, are the only @Kits-ffnet,-

States Patenty 'Patented Dec. zo, reso Holders 8 are adapted to receive an explosive, pressurecreating device 10, pressure actuated valves 7 and a pair of electrical conductors 11 and 12, which are sealed in place in casing 8 and arev connected with device 10. Conductors 12 join conductor 13, which is connected to a movable contact arm 14 of a circuit control device 16.

The pressure creating devices comprise an ignitable gas generating member 4 and an electrically red squib 5. Element 4 comprises any known chemical which will produce a substantial quantity of gas when it burns, such as the known types of solid propellant or gun powder.

` 18, located inside control device 16. The free end of member 18 is closed and contains a row of teeth 20 along one side.

Teeth 20 are engaged with a second row of teeth 22, which are positioned on a rotatable part 23. Part 23 is journalled on a wall of device 16, and is connected to movable contact arm 14, so that a stationary contactl 25 will be engaged by arm 14 when the pressure in tank 6 and line 17 drops below a predetermined valve. Contact 25 is electrically connected by conductor 2'4 to one side of a source of power 26. The other side of thesource of power is connected by conductor 2S to sequence' means or firing distributor 27. v

The tiring distributor is operated by motor 29. This motor drives rotatable shaft 30,\preferably by reduction i gearing 33. One end of shaft lill extends thru the nonconducting base of housing 31 and a circular contact plate 32, which is secured to saicll base and is connected to electrical conductor 28.A The remaining portion of said last-named shaft end is enclosed by and drivably secured to one end of non-conducting shaft 34. Thev other end of shaft 34 comprises a shoulder 37 and screwthreads extending from said shoulder to the end of the shaft.

'Ihe shoulder is adapted to receive a pair of integrally connected, rotatable contact members 35 and 36, which are held against said'shoulder by a nut 38, screwed on said screw threads. Member 35 has two legs, which rotate around the axisof shaft 34 and are positioned in contact with plate 32. Member 36 rotates with member 35 and connects member 35 to a plurality of contacts 39 as the members rotate around the axis of shaft 34.

Contacts 39 are connected to squib holders 8 by conductors 11, thereby completing in sequence, electrical circuits from control device 16 to the various squibs.

VThe operation of the embodiment shown in Figuresy and25 are separated an operator connects the source ofl electricupower to the circuit, as by a plug or switch.

The pressurized systemis now ready for use with a plurality of attitude 'control nozzles 3,'each of which is 65 The pressure system contains a pressure tank 6, which.,v

spaced from the longitudinal axis of the missile. These nozzles are connected to a pressure regulator or reducing valve,45, by line 46. The regulator receivesl pressure thru its connection to tank 6 by linel 47. 'As the pressurized fluid is utilized coiledmember'lS contracts, causing the gap between contacts 14 and' 25 to become 3 ccnccticn ccccplctcs a circuit tc cnc cf thc. arcssure creating devices causing its squib` tov burn or explode, and ignite material 4. This tank 6 is replenished with pressurized duid. The resulting higher gaseous prcsccrc. cmcrs thc. ccilctl irischer... causing. it'tc. crease and rotate member- 23. whicllfis. ccnacctctl t9Y cclltact-afm 14. This rotationY break-s the electrical connection be: twccn contact arm. 1.4. and. ccafect 25, which. caltscs mc.- tor 2,940` stcp. and thc Sequential @riesci thc squibs tc. cease.

Thc firing circuit. will. remain incacrativc until thc Prccscfc again sccc bclcw thc Pccclctcrraiccd' lcvcls and. then. thc. abc-vc.. cyclc, wllltalsc placc ascia This .fccccc will continus until all thc squibs crc rcdf "flic flamber of squibs is determined by the length of time that pressure is. required.

Thc cmbcslmcat. chcwc ia Fiscfc. 6 ccmpriccc gas generating chemicals, 41 42), such as water and calcium carbide. These chemicals may be twov liquids,V or a solid and a liquid, and separation member 4Q secured to cartridge case 43' between the chemicals. Member 43 has apertures 48 and 48' closedv and sealed by movable plug 5.4, which temporarily prevents connectionof the two chemicals. The member also has a passage QQ-Sil, temporarily closed by pressureresponsive plug l55.n One end of each aperture Si) s enlarged and screwthreaded,

so as to receive a connector 51, iit'tedV thru aperture S2;-

in` holder 8.

Each connector 51 receives one end of a conduit 53,. The other end of. each conduit 53 is connected at 53j tc tcclc 6, tc Prcvflc c. sac-.calmly Passage lfcm. Said pressure creating device to said tank.v

Plug kSci is. adapted toseparate the chemicals until unseated'byfpiston 56 of vilu/idl motor. 61'. VThis piston is reciprocable in cylinder 5.7, which is connected with squib 58, that supplies operating'pressure for piston 576.v A pressure tight tit is maintained between the cylinder. and piston by a pluralityof OringsSQ. A n

The operation of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except in the functioning of the pressure creating means. When the electrical circuit is closed hy the circuit governor a squib is vfired as described in the rst embodiment; but in the embodiment of Figure 6 the squih. serves to operate piston 56.

When piston 56 is thusy operated by gas from the squib, the piston drives Vplugs 54 upward from its seat, Ythusah lowing the two gas generating chemicals to mixmand creating a rise in pressure. 'Pressurized gas thenenters the upper chemical chamber, and at a predetermined pressure the gas forces plug 55 from its seat. The. gas then passes thru aperture 50 andconduit 53 to tankI 64;

The remainder of the operation'is the same as the operation of the first embodiment.

It is to` be understood thatthe forms of the invention that are herein shown and described are preferred embodiments, and that variouschanges in theshape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without die'- parting from the spirit of the invention, or the scope ofthe subjoined claims. A

Thefcllowing invention is claimed:

l. A missilel attitude vcontrol Vsystem comprising: a -pressurizjeCl-gas tank havingtwo pressurizedlgas outlets and a` plurality of pressurized-gas inlets; Va pressure-operated governor means fdr. making and breakinganelectrical circuit, connected 4to one of said'pr'e'ssurized-gas outlets; an electric motor; a current distributorbperahly connected tov said motona plurality Qffcasings ccnzineted to saidpresSurized-gas inlets; means in eachffsaid cas ings for creating a pressurizedg'as, Vsaid'meansb'eing 4in communication with. onev of saidvpressurized-gas inlets.; a sdurceot elcctricpower; electical'circuit -conxl'ectias .cats scarce cf rcwcr, scycr'crfrcanc, distributor mctcrcarl csic! Incase lcrfcrcstis arcccriiclsl asie pre ,nre. regulator secured to. other' pressurizedfgas cutlct: e P1115 tty at atacilc .cttitd cctrcfrcalci conduit means to connect said nozzles to` said pressure regulatorf a valve l-irisaid Ik'yiidiit""lineari" towsele'ct'ively route pressurized-gas to said nozzles; and means to control said valve for control of the route of the pressurized gas to said nozzles.

2. A pressurized-gas system comprising: a tank for storitls and supplying. nrcccazcd sas; sac.l applying. Ricans. for replenishing-saidy tank; control means to actuate said gas-supplying means for adding gas to said tank when the pressure therein is low; a conduit connected to said tank; a pressure-controlled circuit governor having a pair cf ccatact Pcintc. and. mcanc tc make and brcalc Said points; said governor being connected to said conduit and electrically connected to said source of power and said control means, whereby said governor governs actuation of saidcontrol means, when the pressure of lsaid tank is belowv apredetermined amount to cause said control means 'and'l gas-supplying means to add gas to said 3. A device as set forth, in claim 2, in which said controlmea-ns comprises squibs, an electric motor, a circuit selection distributor drivably connected to said motor and electrical means connecting said distributor and said squibs.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, in whichv said gassupplying means-comprises a plurality offvcartridges, eachY of which comprises: two chemicals; a movable, member separating said chemicals; and a fluidmotor flow-connected to one of said squibs, operable by pressurized gasr 5.. A missilecontrol system, contlnriirlgV an. clcngatccl pressurized-,gas tank provided with an` apertureV in each end; and a plurality of apertures intermediateV the tank ends; atpressure Kline, tted in one of; said end apertures; an electrical circuit governor, connected to said pressure line, said governor comprising a wall, a pressur,ev-,centn trolled, coiled member connected to said pressure line at one of said members ends and closedjat its other end, a row of teeth on said last-named end, a member journalled on said wall, a row of teeth on said journalled member in mesh with said first-named teeth, a movable contact attached to said journalled member, and a stafA tionary adjustable contact adapted to engage said movable Contact; ai source cf clcctric pcwcr ccntlcctccl t9, cach O f said contacts; affring distributor chmprisingA Ia, ncnconducting,V contact-supporting plate having an aperture, a flat plate of electrically conductive material fixed to said nonconducting plate, a plurality of spaced contacts secured to said nonconductingplate and radially arranged relative tosaid aperture, means connecting said-ilatplate tosaid source of` electric power, al rotatable coritagvzt en-4 gaged with said flat plate, a second rotatablecontacttlxed to said rstrotatable contact and successively. engageable with said spaced contacts, a rotary shaft n onconductively supporting said` rotatable; contacts; ya, motor drivahly connected to said' shaft and means electrically cgnnecting said motor, flat plate and movable contact; a plurality.

of-its adjacent squib to form pressurized gas, which enters:

said tank via said apertured end; andi missile control motors connected to said second pressure line to utilize said pressurized gas.

References-Cited in the tile ofthis patent Press, N.Y,

vistas-*itl Actrcnauticct Pt 237-239, 1958,. Bacana-c 

